If you use the new phenomenon of Sociable Media, then you know what a colossal waste of time it can be. Sure, sites like HeadBook, Twatter, and MyTubez are a great way to connect with friends across the galaxy or find a laugh. And as a method of communication, these sites are insanely popular. Over 26 billion mini messages, or "twattings," have been posted, and there are over 10 billion members posting regular updates about their life on HeadBook. Impressive stats, even if the content of these messages rarely rises from the scintillating level of "guess what sandwich I had for lunch today?"

Yet, the impact of sociable media cannot be dismissed simply because of few million navel-gazing posts. Baronets, Moguls, and practically every notable in the galaxy has a HeadBook page. And Sociable Media’s ability to communicate at the speed of light is beginning to save lives.

During the J-san anti-matter disaster, the baronet of the station Yu Gam sent out a galaxy-wide public video message on MyTubez. He was at the end of his rope. Supply lines had been disrupted because of the disaster and because of climate control malfunctions. Everyone was cold and unable to live in their homes. He asked for help from whomever might be listening, and was absolutely shocked at the response. Donations from all over the galaxy came pouring into the tiny little station. The food, clothes, water, and volunteer technicians needed to fix the station were quickly supplied in overwhelming waves of support. The donations made galactic news, as did the second message from the baronet, thanking the people of the galaxy for their aid.

J-san certainly wasn’t the first sector to use Sociable media to communicate to the greater galaxy in times of crisis. Activists in the Kemet systems and Kal used Twatter to plan the protests that started their sectors’ revolution. Going online allowed them to voice their opinions and decide to enact real change without the forces who were trying to control them knowing their movements.

But sociable media doesn’t just prevent great injustices, it also prevents crime. When a teenage boy was working in deep space on the shielding outside his grandmother’s space station apartment, he saw through the window that thieves had broken in and were robbing them. He watched helplessly as the thieves captured his grandmother and sister and tied them up. Being trapped in his space suit he could not rescue his family or risk attracting the thieves attention. Luckily his suit was linked up to his HeadBook account, and after several frantic posts his best friend called the police. The police arrived just in time to catch the thieves and to pull the young man back in before his oxygen ran out.

And sociable medias have even played a part in reuniting family members, torn apart by years and circumstances. In the Greater York system, a charity group called ‘Rising Up’ have given Twatter implants to the local homeless community. The implants allow them to keep in touch with friends and sociable workers wherever they are. Distributing the implants was intended to give the often overlooked citizens of the five-planet sector a voice. But in giving one homeless man a voice, he was able to connect to his long lost daughter. The reunion was captured by local InfoFeed cameras, and broadcast – where else? – on MyTubez.

Sociable media can be a lot of vapid chatter, but once in a while it saves the day. Never before in the history of the galaxy could an average person get a message to the masses and get them to contact you back! It gives benevolent moguls and baronets transparency, and allows the people under them to respond in a public forum. From disasters to landmark events, everyone can see what is going on with important issues in real time. And that extra level of communication has been making the difference in people’s lives. The way to turn sociable media from the ultimate time waster into the most powerful tool for good in the galaxy, is simply how the users decided to use it.